In a Monday night meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Shas leader Minister Eli Yishai asked that in the upcoming deal for the release of Gilad Shalit, the government include the release of a number of Jews serving prison terms for their acts of terror against Arabs.

It appears that Yishai may not be asking for their actual release, but a reduction in sentences for those sentenced to life in prison, in addition to other unspecified reductions in restrictions. He did stipulate he is only referring to those prisoners who have expressed remorse for their actions, those unconnected with the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin, and those in a process of rehabilitation.

Opponents to the prisoner release, members of the right-wing, accuse Yishai of trying to “white wash” his support for the unacceptable release of Arab terrorists, and the release of Jews should not be used to seemingly give a “stamp of approval” to such a process.

Yishai made a similar request during the Olmert administration, one that fell on deaf ears.

One MK, the head of the Ichud HaLeumi opposition party, MK Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) is confident he knows the response to Yishai’s question, telling reporters that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu scoffs at Yishai, and there is no way he will comply with the request.

Ketzaleh lamented the fact that one is trying to link the release of Jews with Arab terrorists, explaining that currently, there appears to be a consensus approving of the release of terrorists, which is an unacceptable move.

On that note, Katz is demanding the release of the Shamgar Commission findings ahead of closing the Shalit deal; the commission probed recent prisoner exchange deals and is expected to announce its recommendations for future deals. Katz feels it is absurd that this deal may be closed prior to hearing the commission’s findings, which are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)